World concern increases as bombing continues

Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld disclosed on Wednesday that US ground troops were now involved in combat in the north of Afghanistan, assisting the anti-Taliban opposition.

At a press conference in Washington, US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirmed long-standing media reports.

A small number of special US forces are at present in action on the ground in Afghanistan. Special units have also been operating in the south of the country. Rumsfeld said their task was to provide logistical support.

"They are military, uniformed military personnel who are assisting with resupplies, assisting with communications liaison, assisting with targeting and providing the kind of very specific information which is helpful to the air effort," he said.

Meanwhile, US warplanes continued to bomb the southern Afghan city of Kandahar - stronghold of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar - on Wednesday.

And America's forces are continuing to prepare for possible deployment in a more extensive ground campaign.

A senior opposition commander told Reuters news service he expected a major offensive by the opposition on the capital Kabul within days.

Afghanistan's opposition Northern Alliance has so far made little headway against the Taliban.

It has, therefore, called on the US to step up its air campaign against Taliban front-line positions. The Northern Alliance says it would also welcome the support of ground troops.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers voiced renewed warnings of an impending humanitarian catastrophy in Afghanistan, as more and more Afghans flee from their homeland. Lubbers urged Pakistan to re-open its borders to Afghan refugees.

The UN estimates some one and a half million Afghans have been displaced in the latest crisis.

More humanitarian aid is urgent

Conditions in the border regions are deteriorating. The UN has fifteen facilities in Pakistan dedicated to feeding and providing medical attention to Afghan refugees.

On Tuesday, the UN sent ten trucks to Afghanistan from Quetta, Pakistan. The deliveries are urgent - the supplies must reach their destination before winter sets in. But it is widely acknowledged that the delivery of 70 tons of aid is nowhere near enough to assist those in need.

More and more countries who have shown support for the US-led campaign against terrorism are now urging caution.

As more reports of wounded Afghan civilians fleeing the bombing come in, governments are calling for restraint, while some demand the immediate end to the military campaign - especially with the holy month of Ramadam due to begin soon.

Strong support from Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputi has turned to "great concern" as the attacks appear to continue into Ramadam. Saudi Arabia appears to be increasingly unhappy with the situation.

There is mounting opposition in Turkey to the country's participation in the US-led operation. And first doubts are showing up in Malaysia, Kuwait and India.

In Europe, support is particularly lukewarm in Italy and Greece. Germany's population seems divided. But support is still stolid in France and Spain.